An arts and crafts enamel plaque by Elizabeth Davies

For sale is this small enamel on copper circular plaque depicting a pre-raphaelite style maiden in portrait.  It is a rare and distinctive work by Elizabeth Davies (1877- ?) who was a student and then assistant teacher of “illuminations” and then teacher of needlework at the Newcastle School of Art up until 1918.  The plaque is signed to the lower/middle left.

Elizabeth Davies is not well known but was clearly a talented decorative artist.  A design for a silver cup by her was published in the Studio in 1903 and she is known to have enamelled some of the Newcastle Guild of Handicrafts finest works as an assistant to Richard Hatton.  The Victoria and Albert Museum displays a magnificent casket to which she contributed.  See this link.

Condition of the enamel is excellent save for one horizontal crack at the base of the enamel – it does not effect the overall aesthetic and is not readily visible.  I believe the frame is original being very similar to another known plaque by Davies. Provenance of the plaque is to Christies Kensington saleroom 2007 where acquired by the private vendor from who I purchased it.

I am grateful to Tony Peart for his help in cataloguing this item.

Price range: £1,650

Maker: Elizabeth Davies

Designer: Elizabeth Davies

Date: c. 1910

Marks: Enamel is signed Elizabeth Davies

Material: Enamel on copper

Condition: Excellent, one horizontal crack

Size: Plaque diameter aperture/enamel 6.0 cm. Frame 17.25 cm

Weight : NM

SKU: A1652

Additional Information

.

Period

Arts and crafts, Other

Maker

Other